“I haven’t understood a bar of music in my life, but I have felt it.”
Yesterday the rain continued on and off. It must have rained during the night as everything is wet. The air is chilly from the rain. I shut a couple of windows but left the doors open. I needed the lamp lit. The day is dark.
When I was a kid, my third grade nun told me to mouth the words to the May procession songs. From then on I never sang where someone could hear me, but in the car I always sing enthusiastically and loud. I love music and have since I had a record player for my red and yellow records, but I don’t know much about music. A key for me is something you put into the lock to open the door; regardless, I love music and have always have, just sung by someone else.
In Ghana, in the late 1960’s, highlife was the music played everywhere. It was a bit Ghanaian and a bit jazz with calypso as part of the mix. It was like Ghana’s big band era. I loved highlife music. It had a unique rhythm. It had guitars and drums and brass, and I could hear the calypso. Highlife was played everywhere, even from radios in the shops along the roadside. I have a few records of highlife, and I cherish them.
During my first year in Ghana, my family sent me a cassette recorder, a mixed tape and a few favorite albums. I played my music most nights. I can never hear Joni sing Chelsea Morning without seeing my living room, with the red bulb shining from the cassette, with the three chairs with red cushions and my bookcase. We’d sit there, Bill, Peg and I, and listen. Bill and I were a bit hazy on, “I will bring you incense owls by night.” Why, he wanted to know, would someone bring an incense owl? Maybe because it was cute? Who knows? We both agreed the oranges were green. I wonder if the Ghanaians thought it odd that green fruit is called orange.
The sun has come out. It looks like a pretty day.
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August 17, 2020 at 1:08 pm
Hi Kat,
Like you the only instrument I can play is my iPhone. And, singing is out of the question unless you want all the neighborhood dogs howling in the key of ‘Q’. My entire family are vocally disabled. 🙂
Yesterday, we hit 103° until a cold front blew through about seven in the evening. My wife asked me to put some more water in the pool and then I had to stop the hose when the first gust from the thunderstorms blew through. The thunderstorms continued until about ten and then it rained on and off lightly until I went to bed. I thin the pool is filled. Calling it a cold front is disingenuous when today’s high is forecast to be in the mid 90° vicinity. 🙂
I’m back to working from home most days which has only one advantage. I don’t have to get dressed to do my work. If we’re on a teleconference, then I only have to wear a shirt, pants shoes and socks are optional. 🙂
August 17, 2020 at 1:22 pm
Hi Bob,
My mother, father and one of my sisters had great voices. My other sister and I were relegated to the audience. My mother always sang around the house when she was cleaning and doing dishes.
It got down to the mid-60’s last night. It is now only 70˚. It is supposed to rain later. We need all the rain we can get.
When I spoke to my friend, She also either doesn’t get dressed or is dress in the afternoon. I tend to wear my lazy day clothes.
Enjoy your pool!
August 17, 2020 at 1:35 pm
I will enjoy the pool, especially since I haven’t gotten either the first water bill nor the electric bill. 🙂
August 17, 2020 at 1:40 pm
Good luck with that. I am still reeling from my electric bill.
August 17, 2020 at 1:47 pm
ITS KAT’S BIRTHDAY !
Shout it loud and far….This is the day of cake and gifts and friends and memories and (maybe) that first bike and all the things that make a birthday so special
Of course the big problem is what song to post for THE BIRTHDAY KAT ? Joni sings Happy Birthday ? – Not available Lenny sings Happy Birthday ? Lenny never sang anything Happy. The Beatles ? Too friggin obvious.
And then it hit me – one of my favorite stories from Kat over the years was her visit to the sacred Croc pool in Ghana where she saddled up a monster and rode it around the courtyard
So here from 1972 is Mr Elton John sings especially for the birthday girl.
And my tradition is such and I wish you “Many Happy Returns of the Day”
August 17, 2020 at 1:59 pm
My Dear Hedley,
This is the perfect song! I knew this one from the beginning.
That sacred croc was a big one, but he was so distracted boy the chicken sent his way I got to grab that creatures tail. I was brave. He was oblivious.
Thank you!!
August 17, 2020 at 1:58 pm
Happy birthday Kathleen. May u celebrate many many more. Maybe one of them with a bunch of old friends
August 17, 2020 at 2:00 pm
Pat,
That would be a good thing. I hope we can all get together in the not too distant future!
Thanks!
August 17, 2020 at 4:23 pm
♪♫•♪ Happy Birthday!!! ♪♫•♪
Have a great day with music, fun, candles, cookies, flowers and friends! And maybe a gift or two…
(Thanks, Hedley!)
August 17, 2020 at 8:06 pm
Thanks, Birgit. My birthday was all that and included wonderful gifts.
August 17, 2020 at 5:01 pm
There’s a homemade “card” waiting for you elsewhere, so I just leave a Happy Birthday here. Went through my hard drive and came up with this little song which I hope you’ll enjoy. Can’t find out anything about the band. Great hand claps, though! Best wishes!
August 17, 2020 at 8:04 pm
im6,
It is a fun group. They look as if they had a great time making the video. I checked all their videos, and most of them are 9+ years old so I am not surprised you didn’t find anything.
I enjoyed this!